Rumours doing the rounds on internet suggest that the 29 year old Sharks lock Ross Skeate is set to join Top 14 side Agen.

If this turns out to be correct, this will be Skeates second stint in France having previously played for Toulon. Skeate has spent the last 2 seasons with the Sharks but hasn’t been able to secure a regular place in the Super Rugby side.

The big man will be second lock the Sharks have lost for next season after Alistair Hargreaves left for Saracens.

Skeate and another foreign recruit at second row Esteban Lozada, replace Dewald Senekal who has joined Bayonne and Australian Pat O’Connor who has been released.

@Talent (Comment 12) :
Agree with you on that one. Forget the rest, we have the Marais bro’s and PSDT more than capable to step up imho.

Comment 13, posted at 18.05.12 01:20:27 by JustPlainSHARK

I agree Fully and 100% Lets show faith in The Marias and PSDT. Sykes and Bresler are more than capable to do the job for us till those fine young Locks can step up to Super Rugby Full time and not just every so often. We have a knack for getting these “High” profile locks ( Skeate, Mostert and co) who we fight to get in our ranks to only leave when money is flashed. We need guys who will fight for the pride to wear the Great Black & White Jersey.

Comment 14, posted at 18.05.12 07:30:47 by garethkorb

we played without him most of the season, so thats not really a great loss for me. we have more than enough players to fill his boots. he did a good job when he played for us, but just got the feeling that he never lived up to the hype that surrounded him

Comment 15, posted at 18.05.12 08:21:51 by jovner

Not overly saddened by this news..

Bresler can now be given the chance to make the 5 jersey his own. Sykes has really impressed so far this season as well, and we have ample backup in Marais and du Toit. We even have Alberts if we really struggling.

Seems I’m against the consensus opinion, but I’d be sad to see him go. I was not at all convinced initially by the signing, but his standard of play this year changed my opinion of him. Prior to his injury, Ross was the pick of our tight five players, and he always seemed to play with loads of commitment and did not shirk his responsibilities for hard graft.

However, if we do lose him, I am in agreement that it would not be a train smash; we have loads of youngsters with potential coming through the ranks.

We don’t really know what we’re losing because we didn’t see enough of him during the S15. It’s hard to judge a player on CC form, because S15 is a totally different kettle of fish. Perhaps he would have been in the form of his life during the S15 but we’ll never know.

I’m actually quite happy to see him go, if I’m honest. I think at the time we signed him, it was a big slap in the face to a number of other players are, to be fair, we’ve not had our pound of flesh from him because of all the injuries. The Lions ended up deep in the financial dwang because of playing huge salaries to guys who never played and we need to be careful not to do the same thing.

It’s one thing if it’s a guy that we’ve brought up through our ranks… show loyalty to those players and keep them going through the injures, but these guys that come in on big paycheques and then end up sitting out more than half of a 2-year deal must go.

Comment 22, posted at 18.05.12 09:27:47 by robdylan

@Richard Ferguson (Comment 21) : and while I do agree that Ross has put in some great play when he has been fit, it’s not admittedlt that hard to stand out in a rookie tight 5 when you’ve got 50 more Super Rugby caps than anyone else in it!

@JarsonX (Comment 24) : I have this crazy vision of a Sharks team with no more “mercenary imports”. Despite all the false starts, I think we’ve built the foundations of the team and now really need to let it grow.

We do need to keep our big names in the picture for a while longer, but in 2-3 years time, the Sharks squad should comprise 85%+ home grown lads who’ve grown through the structures…

Pat Cilliers would be a great addition, but I reckon we are okay in that department for now.. If Jannie should leave, I’d look at him and Herbst to battle it out for that jersey.. But we have a good few props coming through, so if Jannie hangs around, I wouldn’t bother..

As for Taute, good player, versatile.. I think he might be a great fullback for us. Then again, I think Gouws Prinsloo is a great talent, and he will step up to take over from Viljoen and Ludik over the next few seasons..

@Richard Ferguson (Comment 37) : Yeah I’m not a Jannie dP fan to be honest. Like I said on your Front row Bok predictions thread, I honestly feel he doesn’t deserve to play for the Boks against England.